Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Bridge to Terabithia

Chapter 7

Jess and Leslie were both surprised and relieved that their reunion seemed to generate little interest outside of their inner circles. In a town as small as Lark Creek the majority of the students had known each other since elementary school. Therefore occasional whispers from those that remembered the pair from earlier times were expected. Even the old phrase "Jeslie" popped up now and again. By and large however they flew under the radar of high school gossip. This suited them both just fine. Neither wanted any undue attention. The teasing Jess endured from his younger sisters was more than enough for him. Leslie, on the other hand, had a rather large contingent of friends to deal with. There were already bad feelings between Jess and Jason the last thing the two friends wanted was to face any more conflict. In something of a role reversal Jess often seemed more relaxed than Leslie when it came to discussing her friends. He began to wonder if perhaps her friends were giving her a hard time.

"So, you think the six-pack is giving Leslie grief because you guys are friends again?" Kyle asked as he and Jess walked towards the line of school buses.

"I don't know" Jess replied. "She won't really talk about it. She usually just changes the subject whenever I bring it up."

"Well, I wouldn't worry too much Jess" Kyle said boarding their bus. "She's your friend not them." Of course Jess realized this but that didn't put his mind at ease. In the week since that return trip to Terabithia he had seen more of Leslie than the entire year before. He certainly had no complaints about that. However, she was clearly bothered by something and it took no great leap of faith to deduce that the six-pack was involved. She just wasn't herself.

"Maybe I'm just being paranoid" Jess said as he found his usual seat.

"That's a given Jess" Kyle replied jokingly taking the seat behind his friend. "If it bothers you that much just talk to her about it when you get home."

"I don't want to push her Kyle" Jess answered back. "Besides, she has cross-country practice today." As Jess stared out the window wishing he had a car he could hear Kyle frantically digging through his backpack.

"Well, since you mentioned running" Kyle said as he handed a tattered piece of paper to Jess. "I got a third member for our team."

"The team?" Jess asked confused. Kyle gave his friend a frown.

"The Lark Creek 10K?" Kyle said pointing to the paper. "Remember you agreed to be part of my team?" Jess did remember and felt bad for forgetting. Last week seemed like an eternity ago.

"Oh yeah, sorry" Jess said apologetically. "Who'd you get?"

"Somebody that can run" Kyle said mischievously. "Don't worry you'll meet'em tomorrow morning at our first practice." Jess wondered for a second if he had forgotten about this practice. For the life of him he could not remember Kyle mentioning it until now. Of course Jess had been somewhat preoccupied since his reunion with Leslie.

"Um, what practice Kyle?" Jess asked nervously.

"Tomorrow morning at zero five-thirty" Kyle answered quickly. "We're meeting up in front of your house." Jess searched his memory again. He was certain he would have remembered agreeing to this yet had no recollection of it. He really didn't want to disappoint Kyle any more than he already had so he figured it was best just to go along with his plan.

"Um…okay" he said sheepishly. Jess let his thoughts drift to Leslie as the bus continued on its way. He couldn't get his mind off her odd behavior. All the work he had waiting for him in the form of chores, babysitting and homework seemed trivial compared to his new worry. There was little he could do. It was unlikely he would even see her once he got home. Jess was also afraid of irritating his friend. He was terrified of causing any conflict with Leslie.

Leslie sat quietly in the passenger seat as she watched the last rays of sunlight fall below the horizon. It was Megan's day to drive and Leslie was thankful for it. She was too preoccupied to drive.

"Don't let him get to you Les" Megan said looking over at her friend. "Jason is just being a jealous jerk."

"I know" Leslie responded quietly. "I was afraid he was going to be difficult. I just didn't count on the others." The fact that Jason Simms would give her a hard time about Jess was a foregone conclusion. She expected that much. What she didn't expect was the grief she endured from the other members of the six-pack. Megan was the lone exception.

"Don't take it too hard Les" Megan said. "The others were just giving you a hard time. I don't think they really meant anything by it." Leslie wished she could believe her friend. She wanted to think it would all blow over. It was déjà vu all over again. Her thoughts drifted back to those early days when she first started making new friends. Since the fifth grade Jess had been her best friend for which she was not only happy but grateful. By the time Kyle entered their lives a couple years later she was beginning to find that other people appreciated her too. As time passed and adolescence raged Leslie realized she enjoyed having a multitude of friends. It didn't mean she cared any less for Jess or Kyle but rather enjoyed meeting new people, experiencing new things. It wasn't long before the first member of the six-pack came along and Leslie's world began to open up. It was all so exciting much like when she first met Jess. Getting to know new people fascinated her. In some ways it was like the thrill she remembered as a child each time she opened a new book. There was a whole new world to explore with each turn of the page.

The initial excitement of meeting Megan, a kindred spirit, was thrilling. Having been the new girl in school herself Leslie easily identified with Megan and quickly befriended her. The two hit it off immediately and before long the nucleus of the six-pack was formed.

Yet, the growth of Leslie's new social world almost brought about the closure of her old one. Now it seemed she was going through the process all over again. When she spoke to her father about the whole affair Bill Burke gave her a rather long winded answer that had something to do with being a teenager and all the growing pains that went with it. It didn't make any sense and Leslie figured asking her mom would probably result in a similar answer so she didn't bother.

Leslie wasn't the same girl she was a few years earlier nor was Jess the same boy for that matter. What if they couldn't get along now? How would they react when they had their first fight? Was another fight between Jess and Jason inevitable? The thoughts were like the proverbial snowball rolling downhill. One quickly turned into many until Leslie silently berated herself for doubting her instincts.

Megan could see the turmoil wash across her friend's face. Despite her outward appearance as a carefree spirit Megan knew well the anxieties that bubbled underneath the surface of Leslie Burke. Though Leslie was as strong willed as anyone she knew Megan felt her friend often gave too much credence to the opinions of her classmates. It was a subtle change she noticed over the years.

"Leslie" Megan chided. "Stop second guessing yourself. Just be happy you and Jess are friends again." Leslie gave a start, surprised by her friend's ability to read her expression so easily.

"Sorry" she said sheepishly. "I am happy it's just…"

"Just what Leslie?" Megan asked.

"What if this is just a one-way ticket to conflict?" she asked frustrated. "You saw how everybody reacted at lunch."

"Quit worrying about what other people think Les and just go with your feelings" Megan pleaded. "Remember the story you told me about the day you met Jess? You didn't care if the race was just for boys, you ran anyway. You beat everybody else and met your best friend in the process." Leslie smiled as the memory floated through her mind. That bold move had paid off in more ways than one. Of course Jess wasn't exactly happy with her on that particular day but her persistence eventually won him over. Leslie and Jess were both well aware that they "saved" each other in those first few months of friendship. If Leslie chose not to run that race, if she chose not to offer Jess that stick of gum then she never would have known true friendship. Likewise, had Jess chose not to return her book with a beautifully rendered sketch they would never have reunited. Perhaps Megan was right, following their instincts always worked in the past why start doubting them now?

"When did I become such a worry wart?" Leslie asked aloud.

"I was wondering the same thing" Megan replied with a laugh as she pulled into Leslie's driveway. "Now, here's what I want you to do. Get yourself cleaned up, make sure you use that strawberry lotion Jess loves so much, put on something nice but casual and go surprise him with a visit." Leslie nearly burst out laughing.

"Okay mom, can I at least eat first?" she asked as she began to giggle.

"Sure, just stay away from the Oreo's" Megan replied. Leslie gave her friend a confused look.

"Are you trying to say I'm fat?" she asked slightly offended.

"Oh please Les" Megan quickly answered. "It's just I know how you get when you start stressing over something. I've seen you plow through a whole bag of Oreo's single-handedly Miss Burke." Leslie blushed in embarrassment. It was true her fondness for the cookie cream sandwich went into overdrive whenever she began to worry incessantly. Jess picked up on her habit early on in their friendship and teased her relentlessly. He always threatened to do an 'intervention' if she didn't 'get clean'.

"How did you know Jess likes that lotion?" Leslie asked suddenly wondering just what her friend was suggesting.

"Give me some credit Les" Megan replied smiling.

"You do realize Jess and I are just friends" Leslie interjected. "We're just friends Megan."

"Of course I do" Megan answered. "For now anyways." Leslie smiled and shook her head. Megan was a romantic if there ever was one. She always believed there was more to "Jeslie" than simple friendship. In spite of the teasing Leslie was thankful for Megan. She had proven herself to be someone she could trust.

"Well, I make no promises concerning the Oreo's" Leslie said as she gathered up her backpack and gym bag. "But I'll let you know how the evening goes." Leslie said goodbye and headed towards the front door. She stopped for a moment and glanced over at Jess's house. She felt a warm, fuzzy sensation and smiled.

Jess was thankful that both Joyce-Ann and MayBelle were relatively well behaved this evening. His multitude of chores took longer than anticipated and he had yet to tackle the mountain of homework waiting for him. As he walked into the kitchen he poured himself a glass of milk and settled into a chair at the table. In front of him were several books one piled on top of the other. With a sigh he cracked open his American History text and began to read. Generally Jess liked history. Aside from art or cross-country when he was on the team he enjoyed history the most. It helped that his teacher made the class interesting. Tonight, however, he found the topic of Roosevelt's New Deal tedious. After only two paragraphs Jess was nodding off. If not for a knock at the front door Jess would have surely not awaken until his parents arrived home. He contemplated ignoring it. Kyle would have called before stopping by and it was too late for either MayBelle or Joyce Ann's friends. Yet, he knew if he ignored it and the stranger continued to knock his siblings would soon be running downstairs like a moth to a flame. He rose from his chair and groggily made his way to the door. The peephole had long ago ceased to be useful. Jess couldn't remember how it was damaged. His only memory was of the tirade that his father had upon finding its destruction.

Jess opened the door and was immediately happy he did.

"Leslie?" he said with a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon.

"Hi Jess" she replied clearly happy with his reception. "Is it okay…I mean can you have a friend over?" she asked.

"Of course" Jess replied as he welcomed her in. "You're always welcome Les, anytime." Jess led Leslie into the kitchen and pulled out a chair for her. "I was just doing some homework" he said as he offered her a glass of orange juice.

"Ah, American History" Leslie said leafing through his textbook. "Mr. Allen?"

"Yeah, I'm supposed to finish reading that chapter tonight but I'm not making much progress" he said taking the seat next to her. "How was practice?" Leslie knew how much Jess missed cross-country and was always eager to hear how the team was doing.

"Too long" she replied with a laugh. "I'm not exactly sure how the guy's team is doing but Megan is sure giving me a run for my money." Jess had no doubt that it was true. He remembered Megan being one of the better runners. If anyone was going to challenge Leslie as the top runner it was Megan.

"Well, somebody has to give you a challenge now that I'm gone" he said as he breathed in that wonderful strawberry scent. "Somebody has to keep you on your toes." Leslie smiled as she realized Jess was transfixed by the lotion. She made a mental note to thank Megan the next time she saw her.

"Yeah, well who's going to keep you on your toes for the Lark Creek 10K?" she asked mischievously. It was then that Jess remembered he was going to have an early morning. He silently cursed Kyle for getting him involved.

"I forgot all about that" he sighed. "I guess…wait, how did you know about that?" Jess asked realizing he never mentioned it to Leslie.

"Who do you think your other teammate is?" she beamed.

"You?" Jess asked delighted. "You're the third member?" Suddenly the early morning wakeup didn't seem so bad after all.

"Well who else did you expect Kyle to get?" Leslie asked. "I'm the fastest runner he knows" she said with a grin. Jess realized he was going to have to thank Kyle. Those early morning runs that he and Leslie shared were something he cherished. When they ended it was the loss of two things he loved dearly. Now, he was getting them back.

"Just wait 'till I'm back in shape Les" Jess said as he finished his glass of milk. "You owe me a rematch anyway."

"A rematch?" she asked befuddled.

"Yeah, to the rope" Jess answered as he poured himself another glass. "You had me at a disadvantage the other day."

"Anytime Aarons" Leslie said as she poked him in the stomach. "Just keep drinking that whole milk, it does a belly good."

"Give up the Oreo's and I'll give up the milk" he fired back as they moved into the living room.

"Okay, my Oreo habit is not that bad" Leslie retorted. "Between you and Megan you'd think I was some kind of crack whore."

"Ya' know Les, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem" Jess said as he began to laugh. Leslie was starting to get a bit miffed at this obsession her friends seemed to have with taunting her weakness for the cookie. She found it difficult to be very angry, however, as Jess's laughter proved contagious.

"You're awfully spry this evening Mr. Aarons" she said taking a seat on the couch. "Are you sure that's just milk you're drinking?"

"Well I think the milk expired yesterday" Jess answered. "I like to let it age, really gives it a kick." Leslie burst out laughing. Jess was always at his comedic best around her. The duo knew how to make each other laugh and delighted in doing so. They were amazed at how easily they slipped back into old habits given the previous year of silence. It was a testament to the strength of their friendship. For the moment all their worries drifted away. Conflict with friends, chores, homework and any other concern vanished just as if they had swung on the enchanted rope and landed in Terabithia. Jess and Leslie were beginning to remember that the true gift of Terabithia was the bond it formed between them. Years after its discovery it still worked magic. It allowed them to reconnect and remember how precious and fragile a true friend really is.